Has the merger of language departments actually happened?

I went onto a department website to see if there was a timetable. When I clicked on undergraduate students I was linked to the School of European Languages, Culture and Society website.

I also got a letter off these about a week ago, but it didn't mention about the merger.

So is this the new, big department? Or something else?

Reply 1

Lizia

Basically, no one knows anything about this, because we haven't been told a damn thing. Last I heard, there weren't going to be any changes taking place until next academic year, but then this SELCS thing popped up from nowhere so who even knows anymore?

I don't know what happens with regards to the freshers, but second years have a meeting on Monday to tell us what's going on. Hopefully it will be useful, but knowing UCL, probably not. I think they assume they don't need to explain things to freshers, because you don't know how it was before, but maybe you have a meeting :dontknow:

University College London

London

Reply 2

PJ991

Thanks Lizia!

Yeah, there's a meeting from 1 - 3 for first years on Monday with the 'School Director'. Then I had a quick look on the 2nd year part and it says:

"At the meeting the School Director will explain the new organizational structure of the School and its six Departments: Dutch, French, German, Italian, Scandinavian and Spanish and Latin American Studies. There will be time for questions. Heads of Department and other members of staff will discuss arrangements for individual degrees."

And that is in the same lecture room an hour after the first year one, so I guess they're going to be about the same thing??

Reply 3

Lizia

I'd assume so.

If it puts your mind at rest, the main issues most people have with the restructuring is that specialist staff would be left out, or that courses would be cut if the central administration didn't appreciate their relevance. For example, having just one Year Abroad Tutor would mean that it's very hard for them to do their jobs when they don't have the same close relationship with (or even possible speak the language of) the ERASMUS partners. Luckily, Dilwyn Knox is the school director, and Novella Mercuri is one of the Year Abroad tutors. Both are from the Italian department, so if nothing else the Italian department will have slightly less concern than others, I hope :smile: